FANS of Narcos: Mexico will be thrilled to learn that show bosses have announced a new Netflix series Painkillers based on the opioid crisis.

Eight-part series Painkiller will be executive produced by Eric Newman, the man behind Narcos and Narcos: Mexico, as well as award-winning documentarian Alex Gibney.

The limited drama series is being written by A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood's Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster and will be directed by Peter Berg.

According to Variety, Patrick Radden Keefe, the writer of the New Yorker piece 'The Family That Built An Empire of Pain,' and Barry Meier, author of the book 'Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic' are both consulting on the project.

Speaking of the new series, Newman said, "A tragedy decades in the making, the opioid crisis has become one of the most devastating public health crises of our time.

"Unlike other drug epidemics, born from underground manufacturing and covert smuggling, this epidemic began by prescription – dispensed by doctors, approved by government regulators, and promoted by a family-owned pharmaceutical giant that made billions while betraying the trust of patients and the public.


He continued: "I'm grateful to Micah & Noah, and Alex for bringing this story to me. Noah and Micah’s narrative of how it happened, based on the spectacular reporting of Patrick Radden Keefe and Barry Meier, is heartbreaking and terrifying.

"I'm honoured to be working with the great Alex Gibney and I'm thrilled that Peter Berg is coming on to direct it."

Friday Night Light's director Peter Berg added: "I am really charged to be a part of such an in depth exploration of the genesis of the opioid travesty.

"Companies that profit off of death and addiction are fair game to me when it comes to illuminating the realities of how they go about their business."

As the series has only been green lit, there are no further details about production or casting at the time being.

Currently, Newman has been busy working on Narcos: Mexico season 2, which landed on the streaming service last Thursday.

Recently, fans were left stunned with rapper Quavo – a self-confessed Narcos superfan – made a cameo appearance in the second episode.

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